More than 1,000 letters of objection have been handed to the leader of Dudley Council in the ongoing battle to protect green belt land from development. Campaigners fighting an outline planning application for 557 new homes on land in Kingswinford, known as 'The Triangle', delivered the letters to council leader Cllr Patrick Harley on May 5.
Thousands of Objections Submitted
The council, which is set to rule on the application from Barberry Summerhill Limited, has already received 621 objections to the plan on its website. An additional 3,383 signatures have been logged via an online petition against the proposal. With the 1,013 letters delivered, the total number of objections has reached 5,017, according to campaigners from the Wall Heath and Kingswinford Green Belt Group.
The group is also fighting a separate outline application for development on land near Holbeache House. David Stringfellow, secretary of the Wall Heath and Kingswinford Green Belt Group, said: "Coming hard on the heels of the Holbeache planning application we feared that having to oppose two separate planning applications very close together would tax our resources to the limit. Many thanks to all of you who helped to achieve this."
Concerns Over Infrastructure and Green Belt Loss
Campaigners argue that development on the site, off Swindon Road, would result in the loss of green belt land and place excessive pressure on local infrastructure, including schools and roads. The campaign has gained the support of Cllr Harley and Kingswinford MP Mike Wood, who believes an appeal against refusal could place the final decision in the hands of the government.
Speaking at a public meeting on the application, Mr Wood said: "If outline planning permission is granted the value of what they can sell it for to developers goes up astronomically and they would make an absolute killing. I have every confidence the council will reject this application then we can make sure we put as much pressure on the government to listen to the local community and listen to local decision-makers."
Developer's Perspective
In a statement supporting the application, property consultants Harris Lamb said: "DMBC (Dudley Council) are in a position where they need to grant planning permission for the sustainable development of unallocated sites, such as the application site, to bolster affordable housing delivery and reduce the gap between their emerging housing and the current local housing need. The site is in the control of an experienced promoter and has strong interest from a major national housebuilder meaning it can be brought forward for development promptly."
The council is expected to make a decision on the application in the coming months.
